The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-07-14

Peter Mnsgins OF Her British Majesty
customs on landing II Dover, never forgot
the circumstance.
The captain was The one TO vindicsse The
honor al the said British majesty. He
VAS short, stout. red faced, we'll fed and
srcesdingIy ill-iempered son Of Mars
His martial tread aud loud voiced osths
did no, convey the idea Of acsrpei knight
ret be had never faced the foe nor sought
the bubble reputation at the csnnon''
mouth" No; he had costented himself
with filing the "Queen's Tobacco Pipe.
Is the kiln, where contrabsnd goods were
formally burned. vas somesbat profanely
styled.
The captain was prepared TO "hI' any
one who carried ashore one cigar or one
inch Of lace. = pair Of gloves or any other
article.
"As be stood thus. watching the com
ing ashore Of the passengers With stony
British stare, he espied lady who walked
with the gentle, appealing, uncertain step
OF young widow.
She Was followed by nurse wearing
the cap and apron Of French woman,
and 10 the arms Of this nurse was baby
10 long aud flowing white robes.
The captain was on the alert The lady
came up to him, and, throwing back her
long, Grape veil, addressed him iu deep,
musical accents;
"You are the custom officer. sir2"
slam, responded the captain, rather
erualy.
Now the widow was sufficiently beauti-
full to dissrm even the ill.nature OF Capt
Muggins, and just the style OF beauty he
would be sure 10 admire. The widow was
beautiful with = clear. brown eye-or,
rather, two OF them velvet lidden. heavy
lringed, full and languid. prone to be cast
down modestly and upraised suddenly, to
the no small confusion OF the luckless
male bystander.
She wore full attire OF woe small
Grape bonnet, with slight frost work OF
white under its brim. rested on her CLOS :
~ black hair. Such hairl waving and
shining and blue black. Her brow. 50
smooth and broad was not disfigured by
luuatic fringe or bang. Her eyebrows
we're black aud delicate, but straight, not
arched. Her nose might be triae large
but it was beautifully formed and clearly
ch i,eled; and her mouth was beautiful
the lips so full and heartlike in their
proud arch, their coloring SO fresh and
rich. Then her complexion was OF q soft,
ruddy, indescribable brunette tint impos
s,ble to picture in words. but wholly
charming; her chin was 80 finely moulded
and her throat full aud round.
Altogether, the irascible captain thought
'the finest woman have seen for yearsP'
For the widows form fully equalled her
face, aud she was handsomely dressed.
"a am. madam" he repeated, Where
is your baggasef"
Here it is. am alone that is, with
the exception OF my nurse and baby. l
have TO travel SO much now, and always
alone" Tears came very close to the
widows lovely eyes, aud mournfully ap-
pealing tone touched even the ironclad
heart Of Captain Muggins.
"All right, ma'am. Have nothing to
delcare, I suppose?"
Nothing. Please examine my trunks
for long to rest, and my baby has been
quite sessick, poor darling
The trunks were examined carefully,
for, however the woman might be, duty
before sentiment, was the captains motto.
Nothing WAS found and the trunks were
passed.
The widow took the baby from the
nurses arms, and hushed it to sleep. as it
had evinced signs Of disquietude by begin
ming to whimper
"A fine child. ms'sm. said the captain,
who hated babies like poison.
lis j, not besutful-my Henry?-the
image OF his obi sob completed the
sentence.
He was beautiful = at least, as much as
could be seen OF him, for be was one mass
OF lace and embroidery, bis rosy check
concealed by veil.
Hes foe fellow how old might he
bs?' The captains parboiled eyes shone
with interest; be admired the widow every
minute.
Seven months tomorrow, poor little
darlinsi To think how much he has
travelled
HAS he, ma'sm?"
"Yes; by his fathers strange will / live
six weeks iu Paris and six in England, al
ternstely."
"Rstber troublesome for you, ma am
"Oh. don't mind for myself. said the
bewitching widow, with swift upward
fash Of her adorable eyes; "but my poor
little boy fancy, Nigh. risk bis health,
might even loose him Here sue seemed
to give way TO her feelings, but Just then,
as the captain murmured "oh, hope
not, sympsthetically, the nurse came up
to say that the carriage waited, and with .
hurried thank you 80 much-good bye
the beautiful widow disappeared.
"Ah. thsts something like a womanl"
eisculs.ed the captain. As be resumed his
Official duties. He felt that Providence
bad been guilty Of gross injustice in not
providing him with such wife. instead
Of poor. failed, weak eyed, heart broken
Mrs Muggins.
| In three weeks the beautiful widow re-
turned to France. aud in six weeks she
again hsd her luggage examined by the
n..t.tr ~ln kae.,ua rnnra daarly trtny.